Quarter-cent sales tax might be on Deer Park ballot

The City of Deer Park is considering putting a quarter-cent sales tax on
this May's ballot to fund police and fire resources.

At a special meeting this Thursday, Deer Park's City Council will begin
considering whether to create a Crime Control and Prevention District, and a
Fire Control, Prevention, and Emergency Medical Services District. The tax
would fund these districts, which in terms would help the police and fire
departments meet their needs for equipment and other resources.

"They would be pretty much in a support role to what already exists" at the
City's Police and Fire Departments, says City Manager James Stokes.

If the Council decides to create the districts on Thursday, it will appoint
temporary boards for each. Stokes says those boards would presumably meet
early next week and discuss what budget and goals they'd have if voters were
to approve the quarter-cent tax.

The next step, Stokes says, would be a public hearing in mid-February at
which the city would officially decided whether or not to put the issue on
the May 14 ballot.

Stokes says the Fire Department's example proves why these districts are
needed. "They have literally millions of dollars in capital needs that have
been deferred over the past couple years," Stokes says. For example, he
says, the department's fire-training field and Station 1, 1302 Center St.,
are both getting old.

The special meeting takes place Thursday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. at City Hall,
710 E. San Augustine St. To see the agenda, go here.